Two players dominate the non-existent honours in this week's Argentines Abroad. On Sunday both Lionel Messi and the under-pressure Gonzalo Higuaín hit hat tricks to ensure that Spain's top two continue to fight neck and neck at the top of La Liga. Messi's triplete against Valencia began with a brilliant solo goal, whilst Higuaín's came [. Click to continue reading...

nytimes.com

Global Soccer
Maradona's Task: Harmony From Chaos
By ROB HUGHES

LONDON — The end of Diego Maradona's worldwide ban from his game and the beginning of his greatest challenge, the World Cup in South Africa, are exactly 21 weeks apart.

The lapsed Argentine idol, marginalized since FIFA forbade him from any involvement in soccer after his foul outburst in a broadcast news conference in November, is free to resume as Argentina's head coach this Friday.

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The first proper Argentines Abroad of the new year sees a narrow spread of criollo achievement, but an impressive one nonetheless. Lionel Messi started the defence of his numerous player of the year awards with a hat trick. His next goal for Barcelona will be the hundredth of his club career. In England, Manchester City [. Click to continue reading...

Ezequiel Lavezzi's agent does not think the Napoli striker will join Liverpool in the January transfer window.
The Argentina international was linked with a move to Anfield last summer but a transfer failed to materialise and it now looks like there is no chance of the deal taking place this month. Click to continue reading...

A cobbled-together Argentina side visited the Camp Nou for the Catalán national side's annual pre-Christmas friendly on Tuesday evening, and were soundly beaten as the home crowd enjoyed jeering Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuaín. Lionel Messi didn't play, according to Carlos Bilardo because his club, Barcelona, had requested that he shouldn't. Click to continue reading...

Johan Cruyff made his first callup for the Catalunya select side and it is a team that would be a World Cup contender in South Africa.

The former Dream Team boss called up 20 players from various teams in Spain and Europe to take part in the international friendly that will take place at the Nou Camp on December 22th against Argentina.

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We've had possibly the first transfer of the new window this week, and it involves an Argentine moving from Russia to Spain. Elsewhere Manchester City were once again rescued by Carlos Tevez; Real Madrid had their Argentines to thank for taking three points at home; Ezequiel Lavezzi had a mixed day for Napoli, and there [. Click to continue reading...

On the 22nd December, Argentina will play a friendly against the Catalán national side. Diego Maradona's not allowed to watch (the appeal against his ban was thrown out by FIFA on Wednesday), but he's named the squad all the same. Catalonia were banned from playing a match with the USA back in 2007 but, when [. Click to continue reading...

On the 14th November Diego Maradona's Argentina will face Spain in Atlético de Madrid's Estadio Vicente Calderón in a friendly as the first part of their preparation for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. On Friday, Maradona named his squad for the match, which will consist solely of players playing for clubs outside Argentina, [. Click to continue reading...

On Saturday one group of Argentines abroad got off to a very good start in a new campaign José Luis Brown's national Under 17 team beat Honduras 1-0 in the first match of their age group World Cup in Nigeria. Sergio Araujo scored the only goal of the game. Around the world in the [...] Click to continue reading...

Who's got the freshest ink? Footballers love their ink. We love looking at the ink of footballers. Some of us more than others. Much of this has to do with a delve into the mind of an athlete, a demographic not to be confused with a Nobel recipient roll call. For example, which footballer needs a [. Click to continue reading...

It was a mixed week for Argentines in England Pablo Zabaleta was sent off and Carlos Tevez had to toil on his own up front as Manchester City could only draw 1-1 with Wigan Athletic, and Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insúa's Liverpool lost in circumstances which were either hilarious or exasperating depending on your [. Click to continue reading...

• Disculpe amigas but Guti and Casillas will not be sharing a candlelight dinner anytime soon. According to AS (not the most reliable source in the world), Casillas yelled at Guti for failing to man-mark Sevilla's players especially Renato on Sunday.

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Maradona gave the call up list of Argentina based players today and they are:

G Diego Pozo (Colón)

D Nicolás Otamendi (Vélez Sarsfield)
D Rolando Schiavi (Newell's Old Boys)
D Luciano Monzón (Boca Juniors)

M Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes de La Plata)
M Enzo Pérez (Estudiantes de La Plata)
M Mario Bolatti (Huracán)
M Federico Insúa (Boca Juniors)

F Martín Palermo (Boca Juniors)

This is the complete call up for the last two WC qualifiers:

GK Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)
GK Mariano Andújar (Catania)
GK Diego Pozo (Colón)

D Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich)
D Nicolás Pareja (Deportivo Espanyol)
D Nicolás Otamendi (Vélez Sarasfield)
D Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
D Emiliano Insúa (Liverpool)
D Rolando Schiavi (Newell's Old Boys)
D Luciano Monzón (Boca Juniors)
D Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille)

M Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United)
M Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
M Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes de La Plata)
M Enzo Pérez (Estudiantes de La Plata)
M Angel Di María (Benfica)
M Pablo Aimar (Benfica)
M Mario Bolatti (Huracán)
M Luis González (Olympique Marseille)
M Federico Insúa (Boca Juniors)

F Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
F Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoli)
F Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
F Diego Milito (Inter Milan)
F Martín Palermo (Boca Juniors)
F Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid)
F Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid)

A few thoughts about the last WC qualifying call up list:

The GK's.

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Ezequiel Lavezzi scored the first goal of the game in Napoli's 1-1 tie against Roma.

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Martín Palermo
Originally uploaded by Avanzando Martín Palermo es uno de los delanteros mas controversiales del futbol. Quien no recuerda sus tres penales fallados en un mismo partido con la selección argentina. Veamos:
Palermo cumplirá en noviembre 36 años y no hacía goles en la selección argentina desde la Copa América de 1999; tiene cinco tantos en nueve encuentros. Click to continue reading...

MARADONA. OLE EDICION 15 OCTUBRE 2009
Originally uploaded by 2018 WORLD CUP Hay aficionados que siguen amando por sobre todas las cosas a Diego Maradona que le perdonan todo, y que sueñan con una portada contraria a la que ilustra este post.
Creo que les dolerá mas si Uruguay sale a vencerlos seriamente en Montevideo. Click to continue reading...

Diego Maradona has announced a list of just eighteen Europe-based players for Argentina's final two World Cup qualifying matches at home to Peru and away to Uruguay. There are numerous big-name casualties of Diego's refusal to consider that any part of the defeats to Brazil and Paraguay might have been his fault. Click to continue reading...

Diego Maradona confirmó la lista para los partidos ante Perú y Paraguay, los cuales definirán el futuro de la Selección Argentina. Clasificar directamente, ir a repechaje o quedarse afuera son las opciones.

Sorprenden las convocatorias de Pablo Aimar y de Emiliano Insúa, el juvenil ex Boca que actualmente se desempeña en el Liverpool.

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Maradona presented this afternoon the call up list of European based players for the final two WC qualifiers.

The list:

GK Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)
GK Mariano Andújar (Catania)

D Emiliano Insúa (Liverpool)
D Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United)
D Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille)
D Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
D Nicolás Pareja (Deportivo Español)

M Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
M Luis González (Olympique Marseille)
M Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United)
M Angel Di María (Benfica)
M Pablo Aimar (Benfica)

F Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
F Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid)
F Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
F Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid)
F Diego Milito (Inter Milan)
F Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoli)

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Arqueros: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andújar (Catania).
Defensores: Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Nico Pareja (Espanyol), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Emiliano Insúa (Liverpool) y Gabriel Heinze (Olympique de Marsella).
Volantes: Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Angel Di María (Benfica), Pablo Aimar (Benfica) y Lucho González (Olympique de Marsella). Click to continue reading...

Ezequiel Lavezzi's agent has insisted the striker is happy at Napoli after being linked with a move away from the club over the summer.
The Argentine claimed during the transfer window that Liverpool had lodged a bid for his services, although Rafa Benitez never confirmed his interest. Click to continue reading...

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After a week of recriminations for the selección, Diego Maradona travels to Europe to bang some heads together and break the news to some players that he'll be picking Argentine-based players over them in future. All the same, there's some food for thought for him ('thought', Diego: that's 'pensamiento' in castellano, a word you might [. Click to continue reading...

We've been here before, and there's not a lot else more to say. In Asunción on Wednesday night, needing a win to remain in the automatic qualification spots for the 2010 World Cup, Argentina slumped to a defeat which sees Paraguay qualify for South Africa. Seba Verón was sent off early in the second half [. Click to continue reading...

This round of World Cup qualifiers are a must 6 points for Diego Maradona's Argentine squad. Los Albicelestes face Brazil at home in Rosario on the Sept. 5th and then travel to Asuncion to take on Paraguay on the 9th.

19 players were called up with 3 domestic players to be named before the team gets together for practice on August 30th.

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This round of World Cup qualifiers are a must 6 points for Diego Maradona's Argentine squad. Los Albicelestes face Brazil at home in Rosario on the Sept. 5th and then travel to Asuncion to take on Paraguay on the 9th.
19 players were called up with 3 domestic players to be named before the team gets together for practice on August 30th. Click to continue reading...

via AP

Pooooor fin! The Dona has picked his players who will face Brazil on September 5 next month. And no, Argentinean Prime Minister Cristina Fernandez has nothing to do with it... but who knows? She might be a closet Milito fangirl. Click to continue reading...

El técnico de la Selección Argentina, Diego Armando Maradona, dio a conocer los 19 nombres de los futbolistas que se desempeñan en las ligas del exterior, convocados para los próximos dos compromisos por las Eliminatorias sudamericanas para el Mundial FIFA "Sudáfrica 2010″.

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Friday saw the announcement of Diego Maradona's national team squad to face Brazil in Rosario on the 5th September, which will then take on Paraguay days later in Asunción. Matches between Argentina and Brazil are always intense affairs, but with so much riding on this game for Maradona's men in particular, el pibe de oro [. Click to continue reading...

Maradona gave the list today of European based players for the upcoming WC qualifier against Brasil.

Maradona will give the remaining list of seven players from the domestic league next week.

Player List:

GK Juan Pablo Carrizo (Real Zaragoza)
GK Mariano Andújar (Catania)
GK Sergio Romero (AZ)

D Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)
D Nicolás Pareja (Deportivo Español)
D Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United)
D Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille)
D Nicolás Burdisso (Inter Milan)

M Fernando Gago (Real Madrid)
M Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
M Maxi Rodríguez (Atlético de Madrid)
M Jesús Dátolo (Nápoli)
M Jonás Gutierrez (Newcastle United)

F Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
F Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
F Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid)
F Diego Milito (Inter Milan)
F Lisandro López (Lyon)
F Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoli)

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Wednesday afternoon saw Russia take on Argentina in a clash of two of FIFA's top ten ranked national sides in a friendly in Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow. Diego Maradona's men, eager to recover some sort of dignity and continuity to their play after iffy recent performances and results, won against another side known for their neat [. Click to continue reading...

You may remember not long ago when Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis tore into Ezequiel Lavezzi over his request for a pay raise by saying that the Argentine came well short of expectations, "doesn't help the team," "is not the new Maradona," and that if he were an actor in one of his films he would "eat him alive.

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Sin sorpresas el entrenador de la selección argentina, Diego Maradona dio a conocer la lista de convocados para el partido del 12 de agosto ante Rusia, en Moscú.

La lista completa:

Arqueros:

Juan Pablo Carrizo (Zaragoza)
Mariano Andujar (Catania)

Defensores:

Daniel Díaz (Getafe)
Javier Zanetti (Inter)
Emiliano Papa (Vélez)
Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid)
Nicolás Burdisso (Inter)
Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich)
Nicolás Otamendi (Vélez)

Mediocampistas:

Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
Fernando Gago (Real Madrid)
Sebastian Battaglia (Boca)
Maximiliano Rodríguez (Atlético de Madrid)
Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle)
Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes de La Plata)
Mario Bolatti (Huracán)
Jesús Dátolo (Napoli)

Delanteros:

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid)
Lisandro López (Olympique Lyon)
Diego Milito (Inter)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)

No veo sorpresas en la convocatoria argentina, me sorprende más que haya convocado a tanta estrella para un amistoso.

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Maradona selects his team for the August 12 frindly against Russia. Maradona is not very keen on going to Russia but will make the best of it. The two new faces to the call up are Jesus Datolo of Napoli. This ex-Boca wing man does his best work on the left. The other face is the central midfielder Mario Bolatti who was considered the top player of the 2009 Argentine 1st Division playing for Huracan (runner up to the champs Velez). Click to continue reading...

Maradona gave the list of players today for the upcoming friendly against Russia.

Huracan's talented central midfielder Mario Bolatti is receiving his first call up to the national team. Bolatti was one of the best players in the Clausura 09 and is definitely a player to watch.

Otamendi is getting another call up and he is also another promising player, among the best in the new generation of defenders coming out of Argentina.

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Bolatti, un romántico del fútbol.
Arqueros
Juan Pablo Carrizo (Zaragoza –España)
Mariano Andujar (Catania – Italia)
Defensores
Javier Zanetti (Inter – Italia)
Emiliano Papa (Vélez – Argentina)
Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid – España)
Daniel Díaz (Getafe – España)
Nicolás Burdisso (Inter – Italia)
Nicolás Otamendi (Vélez - Argentina)
Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich – Alemania)
Volantes
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool – Inglaterra)
Fernando Gago (Real Madrid – España)
Sebastian Battaglia (Boca)
Mario Bolatti (Huracán – Argentina)
Maximiliano Rodríguez (Atlético de Madrid – España)
Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle – Inglatera)
Jesús Dátolo (Nápoli – Italia)
Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes de La Plata - Argentina)
Delanteros
Lionel Messi (Barcelona – España)
Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid – España)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City – Inglaterra)
Lisandro López (Olympique Lyon – Francia)
Diego Milito (Inter – Italia)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Nápoli – Italia)
Dátolo mostrando la camiseta que iba a usar (para ir al banco). Click to continue reading...

Due to the ongoing war of words between Lavezzi and the Napoli president over his salary increase request, it appears that Lavezzi will be playing elsewhere this upcoming season.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Lavezzi could be heading to either Inter or Juventus.

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You know those people who don't have a filter between what they think and what they say? Well, Napoli president and producer of awful films Aurelio De Laurentiis is one of them. If you remember awhile back, he warned his team of the dubious hygiene of English women, and has since said many many other completely insane things, but now he's taking it to a new level.

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Cristiano Ronaldo's £80million transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid will be the catalyst for massive round of transfers. Here are today's latest transfer rumours. Click to continue reading...